Multimedia Foundations Glossary of Terms Chapter 7 –

Absolute URL A path statement that includes the complete physical address of a file on the WWW, often beginning with the protocol http://.

Alternative Text A short narrative description of a web-based image intended to convey the essence of its content for users with disabilities.

ARPANET Advanced Research Projects Agency Network. The world’s first packet-switching network became operational in 1969. The predecessor of the global Internet.

Attribute HTML syntax used to modify an HTML element (or ). Usually occurs as a name-value pair, separated by "=".

Background Image The image file source (usually a JPEG or GIF) that serves as the visual background for an HTML element.

Block-Level Element HTML elements specifically designed to handle large chunks of information (e.g. paragraphs, lists, and list items).

Body The main section of an HTML document containing information the user will see or code that directly affects its presentation.

Browser Or . A software program designed for accessing HTML-based documents and presenting them on screen for viewing (e.g. Chrome, , , and ).

Button An object or widget in a graphical user interface that performs an action when selected by the user.

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) An external style sheet (a . file) containing instructions for the physical appearance of HTML content on the screen.

Character Reference Special character commands used in HTML that allow you to use symbols (a.k.a. glyphs) that are not part of the standard HTML character set, such as a copyright symbol © and quotation marks.

Domain Name The part of the URL that identifies the physical address of the host site for a particular Web page (e.g. focalpress.com).

Element In HTML syntax, all of the information that is placed between the start tag and the end tag. For example, in the statement

my house is red

, “my house is red” is the element.

© 2016 Taylor and Francis Group 1 File Transfer Protocol (FTP) File Transfer Protocol. The Internet protocol used in the transfer of files over the Internet.

Head Or head element. A container for information and elements related to an HTML document that do not display on the page, such as the Title element. Information in the head element is accessible to Internet spiders.

HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol. The HTTP standard defines how documents are formatted and rendered on the .

Hyperlink An HTML element that, when selected by the user, will take them to another location within the current page, or to another page on the World Wide Web.

Hypertext Markup Language An authoring language invented by Timothy Berners-Lee for (HTML) creating digital documents for transmission on the World Wide Web.

Index. Page A format recognized by most HTTP servers as the default web page in a website directory folder.

Inline Element HTML elements specifically designed to handle small chunks of information without breaking the flow of text, such as in minor formatting: bold or italics .

Internet A global communication system of interconnected computer networks conforming to the international TCP/IP transmissions standards.

IP Address Internet Protocol Address. A 32-bit numeric address assigned to a digital device connected to the Internet (TCP/IP network).

Navigation Bar Or nav bar. A section on a web page containing a menu or links to the most important content on the website.

Nesting In HTML authoring, this is the practice of stacking a tag within another tag as follows:

This is an example of how to embed a bold tag within the larger body of a paragraph tag

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Network A collection of two or more computers interconnected in such a way as to allow sharing and transfer of information between machines and users.

Nonbreaking Space In HTML syntax, the string “ ” adds a single fixed space between words in an element.

© 2016 Taylor and Francis Group 2 Plug-in An application script or add-on that extends the functionality of a larger software application.

Property A programing convention used to describe the attributes of an object.

Protocol A standardized format for the exchange of information between two or more digital devices.

Relative URL An abbreviated path statement based on the location of the currently active page and/or file directory.

Root Folder Or parent folder. The topmost folder in a folder-based hierarchy of nested folders and files. The root folder contains all of the subfolders and files associated with a web page or website.

Server Or . A networked computer with its own IP address used to host web pages and deliver them to users.

Site Design The preproduction process of planning the hierarchical structure of a multipage website.

Tag Or markup tag. In HTML syntax, a keyword (tag name) surrounded by angled . Tags often appear in pairs containing both a start tag and an end tag . The tag is used to apply bold emphasis to the element contained between the two tags. Thus, the tagged element Big Story! renders on screen in a browser as Big Story!

Title In HTML syntax, the title element contains the descriptive title of an HTML document. Ideally, titles should be kept to 64 characters or less. They do not appear in the actual web page, but rather in the title bar of a web browser rendering the page.

Uniform Resource Locator (URL) A string of characters denoting the path to documents and other resources stored on the World Wide Web.

Usability A measure of the extent to which users of an interface can achieve their context-specific goals effectively, efficiently, and with satisfaction.

Virtual Private Network (VPN) An Internet protocol that provides secure access for authorized users to remote computers and Intranets.

World Wide Web (WWW) The global system of interconnected servers used in the transmission of digital documents via the Internet using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).

© 2016 Taylor and Francis Group 3 World Wide Web Consortium An international community of member organizations and (W3C) individuals who work together to develop standards for the World Wide Web.

© 2016 Taylor and Francis Group 4